Petanque – the game that is catching on in Bath
Petanque took over Queen Square on Sunday when once again the clink of boules resounded around the city’s main square when 32 triples teams took part in the annual Raven Bath Open Tournament.
Organised by City of Bath Petanque Club, the teams battled it out during the morning to be ranked for the afternoon’s knockout competitions – the Cup and the compensatory Plate.
The Compton Inn beat defending champions SCABS (Star Cottage Amateur Boules Society) 13-0 in the Cup final after a thrilling display of skilled pointing and shooting.
Both teams were awarded medals, with the winners also taking away the Raven Open trophy and a voucher for Carluccio’s in Milsom Place.
City of Bath chair Lesley Hall said: “There was a great atmosphere throughout the day, with friendly competitiveness and demonstrations of skill in the game we have learnt from the French and made our own.
“Passers-by were intrigued by the game, including some French visitors astonished to find their national game being played in an English Georgian square.”
City of Bath would like to thank their sponsors – The Raven, Emtone Print and Fidelis Properties – for helping to make the tournament a success.
Raffle prizes were donated by
- Great Western Wine,
- Casanis Restaurant and
- The Jane Austen Centre,
- as well as club members.
Ian Rushton of the SCABs Team added
“We three want to say that we had another fantastic day on Sunday, kind weather and good organisation of a friendly competition.
The professionalism with which the tournament was run this year was terrific and the improvements that have been introduced over 2013 were good; everyone on the outside pistes for two games shares the pain of the poorer playing areas.
We look forward to visiting Bath next year and again participating in the 2014 Petanque Open”